'I am very sad to say that we have separated': Davina McCall splits from husband Matthew Robertson after 17 years of marriage… just days after posting a cryptic quote on Instagram admitting to having made 'mistakes' in her life

Davina McCall has called time on her 17-year marriage to Matthew Robertson

The former Big Brother presenter, 50, has three children with TV star Matthew

The news came just one day after Davina shared a cryptic post on Instagram

Davina told MailOnline: 'Our amazing children are our number one priority'

Davina McCall has revealed her 17-year marriage to husband Matthew Robertson is over.

The former Big Brother presenter, 50, who previously described Matthew, 48, as the love of her life, said she was looking to leave her past behind.

Davina told MailOnline last night: 'I am very sad to say that Matthew and I have separated. Our amazing children are our number one priority, above everything else so therefore we ask for as much space and respect from the media as possible while our family goes through this difficult time.'

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Shock: Davina McCall has revealed her 17-year marriage to actor Matthew Robertson is over. The former Big Brother presenter, 50, who previously described her TV star husband as the love of her life, said she was looking to leave her past behind

The news came just one day after Davina shared a cryptic quote on Instagram and admitted to having made 'mistakes' in her life.

The quote read: 'Every morning we get a chance to be different. A chance to change. A chance to be better. Your past is your past. Leave it there. Get on with the future part.'

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Adding: 'I really know about this one. I have made so many mistakes in my life. But there is always a new day.'

It is understood that no third party is involved in the breakup between the couple, who have three children, Holly, 16, Tilly 14, and 11-year-old son Chester, together.

Davina told MailOnline: 'I am very sad to say that Matthew and I have separated. Our amazing children are our number one priority, above everything else so therefore we ask for as much space and respect from the media as possible while our family goes through this difficult time'

'This is a devastating time for Davina,' a source told The Sun. 'She has been very open about how hard she has worked to save the marriage for so many years.

'But eventually the time comes when you have to accept it's not going to work.

'They're at that stage now and their primary concern is for the well-being of their kids who they adore more than anything else in the world.'

Cryptic: The news came just one day after Davina shared a cryptic quote on Instagram and admitted to having made 'mistakes' in her life

Speaking on The Jonathan Ross Show earlier this year, the star confessed they attended marriage counselling after a series of rows, and explained she hoped to help other couples by speaking out about their woes.

On the problems they needed to overcome, she revealed: 'We had the same row. It might have been about different things but it would be about the same thing and it would get to the same point and I thought, "we're never going to get past this particular row…"'

'People have sticking blocks in their relationship and they get stuck at the same point… It worked brilliantly.'

Madly in love: Davina married the former Pet Rescue presenter at a lavish ceremony at Eastnor Castle, in Herefordshire, in 2000. They renewed their vows in 2015, when she said: 'I'm very lucky, because as far as I know I've married a really faithful guy'

Strong ties: It is understood that no third party is involved in the breakup between the couple, who have three children, Holly, 16, Tilly 14, and 11-year-old son Chester, together

While in a previous interview she discussed the ways in which she worked to keep her marriage strong and healthy.

According to Red magazine, Davina explained her technique was a way for couples to talk to each other and feel heard without the interruptions that lead to arguments.

'You get an egg timer and you each take three minutes to say how you're feeling,' she explained. 'The other person is not allowed to interrupt, to shout, to argue, to get up.

'They just have to sit and listen and try not to think only about what they're going to come back with. Then they get to reply in their three minutes.'

On the rocks: Speaking on The Jonathan Ross Show earlier this year, the star confessed they attended marriage counselling after a series of rows, and explained she hoped to help other couples by speaking out about their woes

Davina, who has battled drug addiction, married the former Pet Rescue presenter at a lavish ceremony at Eastnor Castle, in Hertfordshire, in 2000.

The much loved presenter's first marriage to Andrew Leggett ended after a few months in 1997. She met Matthew by chance while walking her dog in Clapham Common a few months later.

The couple renewed their vows in 2015, when she said: 'I'm very lucky, because as far as I know I've married a really faithful guy.

How it all began: The much loved presenter's first marriage to Andrew Leggett ended after a few months in 1997. She met Matthew by chance while walking her dog in Clapham Common a few months later

'When I think of Matthew and me in our 70s I see us on a world cruise with entertainment every night!'

Meanwhile, Davina revealed earlier this year that she has turned down Strictly Come Dancing numerous times because she didn't think her husband would like her getting up close and personal with the hunky professionals.

She said: 'I get asked to do it ('Strictly...') every year and I'd love to, but I couldn't because I know how hard those contestants have to work.

Doubts: Davina revealed earlier this year that she has turned down 'Strictly Come Dancing' numerous times because she didn't think her husband would like her getting up close and personal with the hunky professionals

'You have to rehearse all week and film all weekend, and it's brutal on family life.

'Matthew would not like me being with all those sexy men in their tight trouser with their pert bottoms either. Not on your nelly.

'I'm not sure if I would like it if Matthew did it either. The show has got quite an intense track record. Every season something happens with someone. Marriage does not appear to be an obstacle.'

All their childrens' birthdays are in September, and Davina previously explained why during her emotional appearance on the BBC's long-running radio show Desert Island Discs.

'I love Big Brother so much and the idea of someone else presenting it was "over my dead body".'

The mother-of-three revealed the couple tried for all their babies in December to make sure it didn't interfere with her presenting role.

She said: 'Matthew would not like me being with all those sexy men in their tight trouser with their pert bottoms either. Not on your nelly'

Matthew once presented Pet Rescue and appeared in the television series Sam's Games.

He later moved away from the limelight and started his own travel company called Momentum Adventure.

In a promotional video for the travel company, the entrepreneur said: 'I think Momentum Adventure was inspired by my father. He taught me everything I know, an extraordinary man.'

He continued: 'I wasn't an academic, I used to run away from school. But where I found peace was in the forest.'

Virgos: All their childrens' birthdays are in September, and Davina previously explained why during her emotional appearance on the BBC's long-running show Desert Island Discs. 'I love Big Brother so much and the idea of someone else presenting it was "over my dead body"'